September 21st 2015 Update: Dorset CPRE were informed today that No Appeal was submitted by REG Windpower before the 17th September deadline. We also received thanks for the support we provided to the Blandford Hill Action group. A great result.

March 17th 2015 Update: Campaigners led by DART(WW) and supported by Dorset CPRE were triumphant after North Dorset District Council’s planning committee rejected the Blandford Hill wind farm application today. Councillors agreed by 4-2 to back their planning officer’s recommendation of Refusal. REG Windpower have not given a clear answer as to whether they will appeal, but hopefully the strong arguments mustered at the hearing will make them think twice.

Planning permission is being sought for what would be Dorset’s third largest wind farm. The proposed site is in open unspoilt countryside, just east of Winterborne Whitechurch in North Dorset; it would comprise four 125 metre high industrial-scale turbines. These would be higher than Salisbury Cathedral spire. When I wrote to you earlier this summer and asked for your support to stop the West Dorset Wind Farm, which is just over three miles away, the response was well over 1,000 objections and we hope this will have a significant impact on the planning outcome. We want to achieve the same impact here. Your objection is essential – without it we will not succeed in stopping this harmful proposal.

Dorset CPRE is in favour of renewable energy – provided it is not unacceptably damaging to the landscape, to heritage assets or to the amenity of local people. We believe that this application is hugely damaging.

The scheme has met with strong opposition from local communities who have formed the DART Winterborne Whitechurch action group to fight it based on concerns for landscape, social amenity, archaeology, heritage and noise. DART (WW) chairman Julien Turner has said “Once again, a vulnerable Dorset Community is being held to ransom by inappropriately sited industrial development. Many local people have signed up to our data base to object strongly due to the detrimental effects on the countryside.”

Dorset CPRE is backing DART (WW) but we need you to get involved and write opposing the proposed development and, just as importantly, your friends, neighbours and relatives also. With, and only with your help, can we achieve over 1,000 objections.

Amongst the reasons for objection are the following:

The size, scale and industrial nature of the proposed development which would cause an adverse visual impact on the small-scale, high value landscape of the area and from viewpoints, both inside and outside the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Adverse cumulative impacts are likely to arise as a result of the proximity of other approved or proposed turbines at the Roger’s Hill, Alaska, Slyer’s Lane and West Dorset wind farms.

Social amenity would be adversely affected through reduced enjoyment of the footpath running through the site and others nearby.

The settings and visual appreciation of heritage assets would be adversely affected. The Winterborne Whitechurch Conservation Area and Grade 1 listed church are just two, but there are seven other Grade 1 listed buildings within three miles.

The wind farm construction could have an adverse impact on likely archaeological remains at the site, suggested by recent excavations at the adjacent North West Farm, particularly the rare discovery of human remains linked to the Roman Villa there.

The proximity of numerous dwellings and the East Down Egg Packing Station could be a cause for concern regarding noise.

PLEASE SEND a letter of OBJECTION to the Planning Application, in support of the local residents and our landscape, – either online, by email or by post.

EMAIL: You can email the Case Officer, Stephen Clark at devcontrol@north-dorset.gov.uk. Please quote the application number, and provide name and address including a postcode.

ROYAL MAIL: The letter can be handwritten or typed or a proforma. They all have the same status. If a proforma, we strongly encourage you to add a handwritten comment in order to personalise the letter (for example, suggest injury and death to birds may be a problem too). All you need do is PRINT your name and address at the top – don’t forget the postcode – and SIGN AT THE BOTTOM. At least two proforma objections are enclosed with this letter. Please copy more for your friends, neighbours and relatives – past experience shows this would more than double the number of objections achieved.

The greatest impact can be obtained by:

Stating that you OBJECT to the proposal and providing a valid planning reason, such as one selected from the above. Reasons related to, for example, subsidies, the intermittent nature of wind turbines and potential impact on property values are not valid in this context.

Making sure that only ONE PERSON signs an objection. If responding by Royal Mail, make sure each objector signs a SEPARATE LETTER. It is NOT necessary to put each objection into a separate envelope. If by email please send a separate email for each objector.

The deadline for writing is 20th August 2014. However it is likely the case officer will accept objections for some weeks afterwards.